What is Salah
The literal meaning of the Arabic word Salah or Salat is “prayer.” After Tawheed, the Salat is the second Islamic pillar. The daily obligatory Muslim prayers form this second pillar of Islam.
Types Of Salah/Namaz
The Namaz is further divided into four types, that are:
- Obligatory (Farz) prayers
- Required (Wajib) prayers
- Sunnah prayers
- Nafil prayers
Obligatory Prayers
The Obligatory or Farz prayers include the five prayers that we have to perform daily. They are Fajar, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib, & Isha. There is no compensation for these prayers, and one needs to perform them under all circumstances.
Required Prayers
The Required or Wajib prayers are similar to Farz prayers, but they have a somewhat lesser degree than the Farz ones. The Wajib prayers include the prayer of festivals and the Salt-ul-Witr
Sunnah Prayers
The prayers that were offered by Holy Prophet (SAW) besides Farz & Wajib are known as Sunnah prayers. It is not obligatory to perform them, but performing them has high rewards. These include the sunnah of ritual prayers, tarawih prayers, Salat-ul-Duha, etc.
Nafil Prayers
Nafil prayers are optional prayers that are not obligatory but are just performed for higher rewards. The Nafil prayers in regular salah and thanksgiving prayers are some common examples.
History Of Namaz
Namaz is a form of worship since the beginning of the religion. It was obligatory on all tribes and nations. The difference was in just the quantity of prayers. According to Islamic history, the number of prayers in a day evolved from 50 prayers per day to 5 mandatory prayers per day which every Muslim has to pray as an obligatory sign of worship.
Importance Of The Salah
The importance of Salat can be determined by the point that the word ‘Salat’ is used 67 times in the Holy Quran, whereas the command to offer the Salah is used more than 100 times in the Holy Book.
“And establish Salah and pay the Zakat”~Al Quran
Benefits Of Offering The Namaz
There are ample benefits of offering the Namaz regularly:
- It drives sins away
- Namaz gives us mental peace
- It tightens our connection with Allah
- It made one realize that Allah is his only supporter & listener
- Besides mental and spiritual merits, it also benefits us physically
- Namaz is the constant reminder of Akhirah
- Constant prayers improve our character
- Salah drives Satan away
- It protects us from the curse of evil eyes
- It purifies our heart, body, and mind
- It helps one to get rid away from constant laziness
- Salah brings the ultimate amount of blessings
Namaz & Quran
There are various events in the Quran where the offering of Namaz and its importance are highlighted. Such as in Surah Baqarah verse 45, Allah states that:
“And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah]”.
In Surah Anam verse 72, Allah highlighted namaz as:
“And establish prayer and fear Him. And it is He to whom you will be called upon”.
In Surah Nur verse 56, it is stated that:
“And maintain your prayers and give zakah and obey the Messenger of Allah – that you may receive mercy”.
Salah In The Hadiths
The importance of Salah is also highlighted by Muhammad (SAW) on various accounts. He stated that:
“A person who does not perform a prayer on time is like someone whose family and the property were removed.” -Jamiu’l Ahadith
On another account, he (SAW) stated that:
“Between faith and unbelief, is abandoning the prayer.” -Muslim
Ease Of Salah In Religion Islam:
As depicted by the history of Salat the number of Salats decreased from 50 to just 5 for the current Muslim Ummah. The religion has eased the conditions of Salat upon a Muslim. The first ease that religion Islam offers is that one can offer Salah anywhere, where there is no filth & idols. Secondly one can offer Salah while sitting if he can’t stand, by lying if he can’t sit, and even just by moving fingers/hands if one can’t even move other body parts. To add, one can also do Wudu with the dust or sand (Tayammum), in case pure water isn’t available.
Some Must Conditions For Namaz
Some conditions must be met for performing the salat, they are:
- Purification of place where one is praying
- The authentic intention (Niyat) of Namaz
- Praying at the authentic time
- Direction must be facing the Holy Ka’abah
- One must be a mature Muslim
- One’s clothes must be pure
- One’s intimate body parts must be guarded and covered properly
The Purpose Of Salah
The real purpose of Salah for the Muslims is the remembrance of Allah, and to maintain the Taqwa. Namaz is a blessing for every individual that automatically drives Satan away and helps one to restrain from evil and evil eyes. Salah also explains the concept of brotherhood & equality among the Muslims, where the ruler and slave offer the Namaz at the same place, and at the same time.
The purpose of prayer also includes a strong reminder of the Day of Judgement, where the first question will be about the Namaz. In light of these purposes, some prayers such as Salat-ul-Jummah, Salat-ul-Tasbeeh, etc are considered as important and must offer prayers, for higher ranks and rewards in the Akhirah.
